Ditch roller attachment for earth loading machine

ABSTRACT

An attachment for the earth-working bucket or scoop part of a front-end loader or similar tractor-type earth-working vehicle. The attachment includes a relatively narrow earth-packing roller of a width permitting the roller to be received in a narrow trench or ditch, and for use in packing loose layers of earth in refilling or backfilling the ditch, as for example, in the procedure of laying a string of pipe in a ditch. The roller of the attachment is subjacently centrally supported on the bucket or scoop part of the loader machine - in using the attachment, the machine straddles the ditch and is piloted back and forth along the ditch in rolling and compacting the ditch floor.

United States Patent Mangum 15] 3,680,452 1 Aug. 1, 1972 [72] Inventor: Joe T. Mangum, 19725 NE. 10

Ave., Miami, Fla. 33162 [22] Filed: June 29, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 50,708

[52] US. Cl. ..94/50 R [51] Int. Cl. ..E0lc 19/26 [58] Field of Search ..94/50; 37/142.5; 214/145 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,440,744 4/1969 Smith ..214/145 X 3,072,025 1/1963 Cronin ..94/50 R 3,302,540 2/1967 Fuentes ..94/50 R 2,154,720 4/1939 Biles ..94/50 R 2,466,822 4/1949 Pollitz ..94/50V 2,585,117 2/1952 Guerries ..94/50PR Primary Examiner-Jacob C. Nackenoff Attorney-John Cyril Malloy [5 7] ABSTRACT An attachment for the earth-working bucket or scoop part of a front-end loader or similar tractor-type earthworking vehicle. The attachment includes a relatively narrow earth-packing roller of a width permitting the roller to be received in a narrow trench or ditch, and for use in packing loose layers of earth in refilling or backfilling the ditch, as for example, in the procedure of laying a string of pipe in a ditch. The roller of the attachment is subjacently centrally supported on the bucket or scoop part of the loader machine in using the attachment, the machine straddles the ditch and is piloted back and forth along the ditch in rolling and compacting the ditch floor.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Relates to earth-compacting roller means generally and particularly relates to narrow earth roller means adapted for use in sequentially compacting progressivelykplaced layers of earth in backfilling a ditch or the 2. Description of the Prior Art It is of particular significance in the embedding or placement of underground conduits, lead lines or the like, to sufficiently tamp or compact the earth in backfilling the trench formed for receiving the lead lines or the like. If the backfill earth is not compacted sufficiently, with the passage of time, the earth settles and a depression is formed along the ditch line of the underground installation. The formation of a depression along a ditch line is particularly detractive to landscape appearance and the depression may catch and hold rain water, preventing proper drainage of the terrain. A ditch line depression formation is particularly objectionable when it is formed in a roadway or parking lot surface or a utility surface traversed by road vehicles. As may frequently occur, a depression in a roadway surface may require additional maintenance or roadway repair procedure one or more times, as a result of the earth settling, and in maintaining a smooth level utility surface for road vehicle travel.

To reduce the formation of a depression along a ditch line, a typical practice may be the utilization of a plurality of hand'operated pneumatic tamping tools each being operated by a workman who manipulates the tool over the floor of a ditch and in compacting the sequential layers of earth in backfilling a ditch. As may well be appreciated, such work is of a laborious nature and may require a rather large number of workmen.

Moreover, the substantially small portable pneumatic tamping tool may not have sufficient impact force to properly compact the earth, particularly if each of the successive layers of backfill earth is of thick mass character. Another procedure which may be used in filling and tamping an underground line installation, may be by utilization of a relatively small portable tamping machine operated by one or two workers. A machine of this type is provided with a vertically oscillating tamping foot driven by gasoline engine power means supported in the machine. In using the tamping machine, the workmen maintain the machine upright on the tamping foot means as the oscillatory movement of the foot means compacts the successive layers of earth. As may well be appreciated this work also is laborious and may require considerable practice for proficient use of the machine. Certain attachment type earth roller devices have heretofore been contemplated for use in rolling a narrow trench or ditch floor. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,120,745 discloses a narrow roller attachment device adapted for use in compacting the earth of a trench. The narrow roller of US. Pat. No. 2,120,745 is adapted to be mounted to a side of a regular width earth roller machine and has a particular disadvantage in that it may not be properly manipulated along a ditch or the like, and also the heavy weight of such roller vehicle may tend to collapse the side walls of the ditch formation. Moreover, the typical trench roller is not adapted for attachment to a vehicle used in the earth handling or backfilling process of installing an underground conduit or the like, thus necessitating the provision of specific equipment for compacting the earth, and additional equipment expensive to operate and maintain.

s YOFTl-IEINVE The instant invention obviates many of the abovementioned disadvantages in prior art and provides a narrow ditch or trench roller adapted for attachment to the lift bucket or scoop of a tractor-type machine typically utilized in earth handling and backfill procedure; the attachment device may readily be installed on or removed from the bucket part of a machine used in backfill operation in the installation of an underground conduit or the like; the attachment roller device is adapted to be quickly and easily attached to a machine typically used in the installing of an underground line thus promoting flexibility and efficient use of men and equipment on the job site. The use of the attachment roller device of the invention facilitates the compacting of the earth more efliciently as compared with prior art tamping tools and provides means for reducing substantially the settling of earth and the formation of a depression along a ditch line or the formation of a depression in a roadway or road vehicle utility surface. The attachment device is of substantially durable mechanically simple design requiring negligible expense in repair and maintenance and admitting of economical cost in manufacture and attractive price in marketing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is a partial view of the ditch roller attachment mounted to a bucket of a conventional front end loader; I

FIG. 2 is a view of the ditch roller shown in elevation with a leveling means mounted thereto;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the attachment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front end view illustrating the operation of the attachment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 12 generally designates a front end loader of the type which is provided with a bucket 16 which can be raised and lowered with respect to a support surface 18 and tilted with respect to a transverse axis 20 of the loader. More specifically, such buckets include end walls one of which is designated by the numeral 22 in FIG. 2, and opposite main side wall portions 24 and 26. The side walls converge to a bucket floor 28 and generally diverge to two lips, including the upper lip portion 30 terminating at the edge 32 and the lower lip portion 34 terminating at a cutting edge 36, there being a mouth for the bucket defined between the edges of the sides and ends of the bucket.

Referring more particularly to the attachment, it is seen that it includes a frame generally designated by the numeral 40 to engage the bucket and having a portion extending outwardly and away from the side having the cutting lip, these portions being designated as an upper portion 42 and a lower portion 44 respectively. The attachment also includes a wheel or roller to pack and compact a dirt floor of a ditch, the roller being designated by the numeral 46. Means are provided as at 48 to journal the roller 46 to the frame and means are also provided to engage the bucket.

Referring more specifically to the frame, it is seen that it includes in the first 42 portion means which engage the upper lip 30, preferably in the form of pins 50 receivable through holes 52; however, other suitable means may be provided to attach the frame to the upper lip portion, the means illustrated having been selected for the ease of connection thereto which is inherent in this type of structure. The means also include structure for attachment and connection of the frame to the cutting edge 36 of the lower lip portion of the bucket. These means comprise a support ledge 56 on the upper portion or first portion of the frame, the ledge 56 being spaced from the connection of the pins 50 f the frame to the upper lip 30 a distance sufficient to nest the lips of the bucket with the upper portion of the frame spanning the open mouth of the bucket. Alternatively, although not illustrated in the drawings, the frame upper portion may include means for nesting the rearward portion of the bucket, the frame being arranged to be supported by the bucket in operation to be described below. The frame lower portion 44 extends generally away from the apex defined by the plane of the mouth and the side of the bucket carrying the cutting lip. It extends a distance sufficient to accommodate the roller 46 and supports the means 48 journalling the roller for rotation with respect to the lower portion.

In attaching the attachment to the front end bucket of the loader 12, the pins 50 of the frame are inserted through the openings 52 of the bucket, the roller is nested over the bucket and is secured thereto so that it cannot move outwardly away from the open mouth and fall from the pin and hole connection. To accommodate this, restraining means are provided to hold the attachment and wheel 46 in a predetermined location with respect to the bucket, more particularly, the cutting edge 36. This is accommodated in the preferred embodiment by chain means 60 and 62 which are connected at one end to the opposite sides of the frame at about its connection with the cutting lip. The chain means 60, 62, in operative configuration, extend in diverging relation rearwardly toward the floor of the bucket and are attached at their terminal ends 64 and 66 to the bucket. Preferably, the chain means 60, .62 include a tightening means such as the turnbuckle indicated by the numeral 68 arranged intermediate the length of each of the chain means.

In operation, it is quite often required that the surface or floor of a ditch be compacted, for instance after the digging of the ditch and laying of sewer pipe on the floor. This is ordinarily accomplished by several layers of dirt or lifts being thrown into the ditch and then compacted. Before successive lifts or layers of dirt are compacted, tests are often taken to determine the compactness of the deposited material. It is required that this be of a certain density so that pockets or sinkage 7 does not occur in the ultimate layer at the support surface. In the past this has been a relatively time-consuming tamping or packing process. The present invention merely requires that the wheel or roller 46 be lowered into the ditch after backfill earth material of a required lift depth has been deposited in the ditch and, thereafter, the ditch floor is rolled to compact it. This is accomplished by lowering the bucket with the attachment mounted to it so that the wheel extends depthwise into the ditch and thereafter, by cyclically moving the attachment by movement of the loader vehicle along the ditch, the roller 46 compacts the deposited backfill material. Various amounts of weight may be applied depending upon the material to be compacted. For instance, the entire front end weight of the loader may be carried by the roller 46 by operating the hydraulic down-pressure operating control of the loader which transmits the loader weight to the roller. Additionally, weight may be caused by partially loading the bucket with dirt or rock material.

Because the material deposited in the ditch may require leveling, leveling means generally designated by the numeral 70 are provided for the attachment. As shown in FIG. 2, the leveling means comprises a blade 72 having an upper edge extending transversely approximately the width of the ditch to be leveled, the upper edge being designated by the numeral 74 and pivotally connected to the frame as shown at 76. The blade has a lower leveling edge 78 with the blade being of a length from the pivot somewhat greater than the diameter of the rollerv in the preferred embodiment so that the cutting or leveling edge extends to the floor of the ditch. Support means are included on the leveling means to support the blade intermediate the pivot point and the leveling edge, the support means comprising a foot 80 which may be reinforced as by the brace 82, and structure defining a recess to dwell on the surface of the roller as at 84. In operation the leveling means is employed with the roller slightly off the floor of the ditch so that as the front end loader moves along the ditch, the dirt is distributed by the lower portion 86 of the leveler. When not in use, the leveler is pivoted upwardly in the direction of the arrow 88 to an out of the way position generally indicated by the dotted line position shown at 90.

Scraper means are preferably provided for the roller and may be suitably located on the frame preferably as shown in FIG. 2, and designated at the left-hand side thereof by the numeral 92. Referring to the leveling means, chain means 94 are preferably provided for holding the leveling blade 72 in an elevated position with respect to the frame when not in use, one end of the chain being connected to the leveling blade as at 96 and the other end being connected to the frame as at 98 in a preferred embodiment.

The attachment also preferably includes pulsating means including a power-driven pulsating unit 100 supported preferably on the frame upper portion 42 of the attachment. The pulsating unit 100, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2, preferably is powered by internal combusion gasoline engine means; however, in certain embodiments of the apparatus, the pulsating power may be derived from hydraulic power source means carried in the earth-working machine 12. Hydraulic pump means, as carried in the machine 12, may provide power means through suitable hydraulic flexible line means (not shown) to energize hydraulic motor means of the pulsating unit 100. The pulsating unit is operational in causing vertical oscillatory movement of the roller 46; as the machine is moved along a ditch and the roller traverses the ditch floor, the vertical oscillatory movement of the roller provides a tarnping effect on the earth and further augments the earth-compacting action of the roller on the ditch floor.

While the invention is shown and described in an embodiment presently conceived as being a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A ditch roller attachment for a bucket of a loader, end loader, which bucket can be raised, lowered or tilted, said attachment comprising; an attachment frame including an upper portion adapted to span the upper and lower walls of said bucket when the mouth of the bucket is tilted to extend forwardly; said attachment frame alsohaving a lower portion angularly related to said upper frame portion and rotatably supporting a ditch roller; said upper portion having means at its upper end zone adapted to be secured to the upper wall of said bucket; and said upper portion also having means to attach to the lower wall of said bucket, said means to attach to the lower wall including restraining means effective to maintain the roller and frame in a predetermined orientation with respect to the upper and lower walls.

2. The ditch roller attachment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means to attach to the lower wall including said restraining means comprises support ledge means fixed to said attachment means to engage the outer terminal margin of the lower wall of said bucket.

3. A ditch roller attachment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said restraining means includes means extending from said frame in the vicinity of the juncture of the said upper and lower portion and having means to be secured to said bucket.

4. The attachment as set forth in claim 3 wherein said restraining means comprises flexible means extending from aid frame in the vicinity of the juncture of said upper and lower portion to secure the attachment against the terminal end of the lower wall of said bucket and said flexible means including tensioning means for lengthening or shortening said flexible means.

5. The attachment as set forth in claim 1 additionally 6 including means for leveling the earth of a ditch floor including an elongate leveling blade of a lateral length substantially the same as the axial length of said roller, and having a proximal end edge and an earth-working distal end edge,

means pivotally supporting the blade proximal end edge on said attachment frame on a horizontal axis, generally swingable coincident to the plane of rotation of the attachment roller, and with the distal end edge of said blade being adapted for swinging oblique movement generally inwardly and outwardly of said roller and respectively downwardly and upwardly relative to a ditch floor and the horizontal plane of support of said roller.

6. The attachment as set forth in claim 5 additionally including means for limiting the swinging inward movement of said leveling blade toward said attachment roller and for positioning the distal end edge of said blade generally coincident to the horizontal plane of support of said roller.

7. The attachment as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for limiting the swinging inward movement of said leveling blade includes support foot means fixed on said blade adjacent the distal extremity thereof,

said support foot means having a terminal portion adapted to bear against the working circular periphery of said roller in limiting inward movement of said blade in the positioning thereof.

8. The attachment as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for limiting the swinging movement of said leveling blade toward said attachment roller additionally includes a dwell recess formed on said leveling blade intermediate the length thereof, defining a surface adapted to ridingly engage the circular periphery of said roller.

9. The attachment as set forth in claim 8 including means for maintaining said leveling blade in a raised inactive configuration, elevated above said ditch floor.

10. The attachment as set forth in claim 9 including chain means connecting said leveling blade and said frame, including means for adjusting the effective length of said chain means and in maintaining said leveling blade in said raised inactive position. 

1. A ditch roller attachment for a bucket of a loader, end loader, which bucket can be raised, lowered or tilted, said attachment comprising; an attachment frame including an upper portion adapted to span the upper and lower walls of said bucket when the mouth of the bucket is tilted to extend forwardly; said attachment frame also having a lower portion angularly related to said upper frame portion and rotatably supporting a ditch roller; said upper portion having means at its upper end zone adapted to be secured to the upper wall of said bucket; and said upper portion also having means to attach to the lower wall of said bucket, said means to attach to the lower wall including restraining means effective to maintain the roller and frame in a predetermined orientation with respect to the upper and lower walls.
 2. The ditch roller attachment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means to attach to the lower wall incLuding said restraining means comprises support ledge means fixed to said attachment means to engage the outer terminal margin of the lower wall of said bucket.
 3. A ditch roller attachment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said restraining means includes means extending from said frame in the vicinity of the juncture of the said upper and lower portion and having means to be secured to said bucket.
 4. The attachment as set forth in claim 3 wherein said restraining means comprises flexible means extending from aid frame in the vicinity of the juncture of said upper and lower portion to secure the attachment against the terminal end of the lower wall of said bucket and said flexible means including tensioning means for lengthening or shortening said flexible means.
 5. The attachment as set forth in claim 1 additionally including means for leveling the earth of a ditch floor including an elongate leveling blade of a lateral length substantially the same as the axial length of said roller, and having a proximal end edge and an earth-working distal end edge, means pivotally supporting the blade proximal end edge on said attachment frame on a horizontal axis, generally swingable coincident to the plane of rotation of the attachment roller, and with the distal end edge of said blade being adapted for swinging oblique movement generally inwardly and outwardly of said roller and respectively downwardly and upwardly relative to a ditch floor and the horizontal plane of support of said roller.
 6. The attachment as set forth in claim 5 additionally including means for limiting the swinging inward movement of said leveling blade toward said attachment roller and for positioning the distal end edge of said blade generally coincident to the horizontal plane of support of said roller.
 7. The attachment as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for limiting the swinging inward movement of said leveling blade includes support foot means fixed on said blade adjacent the distal extremity thereof, said support foot means having a terminal portion adapted to bear against the working circular periphery of said roller in limiting inward movement of said blade in the positioning thereof.
 8. The attachment as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for limiting the swinging movement of said leveling blade toward said attachment roller additionally includes a dwell recess formed on said leveling blade intermediate the length thereof, defining a surface adapted to ridingly engage the circular periphery of said roller.
 9. The attachment as set forth in claim 8 including means for maintaining said leveling blade in a raised inactive configuration, elevated above said ditch floor.
 10. The attachment as set forth in claim 9 including chain means connecting said leveling blade and said frame, including means for adjusting the effective length of said chain means and in maintaining said leveling blade in said raised inactive position. 